2 TRANSFER OF LOADS AND STRESSES IN BEAMS

THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
EC 330 Structures I
2. TRANSFER OF LOADS AND STRESSES IN BEAMS
G. SENTHIL Kumaran, PhD

Associate Professor (Structures)
Dept,of Civil Engineering & Construction
The Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
Email: kumaran.gs@cbu.ac.zm/kumarangs@yahoo.com
2020-21
A beam is a structural element that primarily resists loads applied laterally to
the beam's axis. Its mode of deflection is primarily by bending. ... Beams are
characterized by their manner of support, profile (shape of cross-section),
equilibrium conditions, length, and their material.
A beam is a structural element that is capable of withstanding load primarily

by resisting bending. The bending force induced into the material of the beam
as a result of the external loads, own weight, span (distance between two
intermediate supports for a structure,) and external reactions to these loads is
called a bending moment.
Beams generally carry vertical gravitational forces but can also be used to
carry horizontal loads (i.e., loads due to an earthquake or wind). The loads
carried by a beam are transferred to columns, walls, or girders, which then
transfer the force to adjacent structural compression members
EC 330 STRUCTURES I 2
Types of beams: Beams are characterized by their profile (the shape of
their cross-section), their length, and their material. In contemporary
construction, beams are typically made of steel, reinforced concrete,
wood, composites, or cased fluids (inflatable beams).
Beams are also described by how they are supported. Supports restrict
lateral and/or rotational movements so as to satisfy stability conditions
as well as to limit the deformations to a certain allowance.
 A simple beam is supported by a pin support at one end and a roller
support at the other end.
 A beam with a laterally and rotationally fixed support at one end with
no support at the other end is called a cantilever beam.
 A beam simply supported at two points and having one end or both
ends extended beyond the supports is called an overhanging beam.
Beams can be classified into many types based on three main criteria. They are as follows:
Based on geometry:
 Straight beam – Beam with straight profile
 Curved beam – Beam with curved profile
 Tapered beam – Beam with tapered cross section
Based on the shape of cross section:

 I-beam – Beam with ‘I’ cross section
 T-beam – Beam with ‘T’ cross section
 C-beam – Beam with ‘C’ cross section
Based on equilibrium conditions:

 Statically determinate beam – For a statically determinate beam, equilibrium conditions alone can
be used to solve reactions.
 Statically indeterminate beam – For a statically indeterminate beam, equilibrium conditions are not
enough to solve reactions. Additional deflections are needed to solve reactions.
Based on the type of support:

 Simply supported beam
 Cantilever beam
 Overhanging beam
 Continuous beam
 Fixed beam
SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT
IMPORTANT POINTS FOR DRAWING SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT
DIAGRAMS
The shear force diagram is one which shows the variation of the shear force along the
length of the beam. And a bending moment diagram is one which show the variation
of the bending moment along the length of beam. In these diagrams, the shear force or
bending moment are represented by ordinates whereas the length of the beam
represents abscissa.
The following are the important points for drawing shear force and bending
moment diagrams
1. Consider the left or the right portion of the section.
2. Add the forces (including reaction) normal to the beam on one of the portion. If
right
portion of the section is chosen, a force on the right portion acting downwards is
positive
while force acting upwards is negative.
If the left portion of the section is chosen, a force on the left portion acting upwards is
positive while force acting downwards is negative.
3. The positive values of shear force and bending moments are plotted above the base
line, and negative values below the base line.
4. The shear force diagram will increase or decrease suddenly i.e., by a vertical straight
line at a section where there is a vertical point load.
5. The shear force between any two vertical loads will be constant and hence the shear
force diagram between two vertical loads will be horizontal.
6. The bending moment at the two supports of a simply supported beam and at the free
end of a cantilever will be zero
The point of contraflexure (PoC) occurs where bending is zero and at the point of change
between positive and negative (or between compression and tension). In a beam that is
flexing (or bending), the point where there is zero bending moment is called the point of
contraflexure.
Or
A point at which bending moment changes its sign from positive to negative and vice versa.
Such point is termed as point of contraflexure. At this point, the value of bending moment is
zero (0).
Theory of Simple Bending
Introduction
When some external load acts on a beam, the shear force and bending moments are
set up at all sections of the beam. Due to the shear force and bending moment, the
beam undergoes certain deformation. The material of the beam will offer resistance
or stresses against these deformations. These stresses with certain assumptions can
be calculated. The stresses introduced by bending moment are known as bending
stresses. If a length of a beam is subjected to a constant bending moment and no
shear force (i.e., zero shear force), then the stresses will be set up in that length of
the beam due to B.M. only and that length of the beam is said to be in pure bending
or simple bending. The stresses set up in that length of beam are known as bending
stresses
A beam simply supported at A and B and overhanging by same length at each support is
shown in Fig (a). A point load W is applied at each end of the overhanging portion. The
S.F. and B.M. for the beam are drawn as shown in Fig. (b) and Fig. (c) respectively.
From these diagrams, it is clear that there is no shear force between A and B but the
B.M. between A and B is constant. This means that between A and B, the beam is
subjected to a constant bending moment only. This condition of the beam between A
and B is known as pure bending or simple bending.
THEORY OF SIMPLE BENDING WITH ASSUMPTIONS MADE
Before discussing the theory of simple bending, let us see the assumptions made in
the theory
of simple bending. The following are the important assumptions:
1. The material of the beam is homogeneous* and isotropic**.
2. The value of Young's modulus of elasticity is the same in tension and compression.
3. The transverse sections which were plane before bending, remain plane after
bending
4. The beam is initially straight and all longitudinal filaments bend into circular arcs
with a common centre of curvature.
5. The radius of curvature is large compared with the dimensions of the cross-section.
6. Each layer of the beam is free to expand or contract, independently of the layer,
above or below it.
CONDITION OF SIMPLE BENDING & FLEXURAL RIGIDITY
 Bending equation is applicable to a beam subjected to pure/simple bending. Ie the bending
 moment acting on the beam is constant and the shear stress is zero
 However in practical applications, the bending moment varies from section to section and
the shear force is not zero
 But in the section where bending moment is maximum, shear force (derivative of bending
 moment) is zero
 Hence the bending equation is valid for the section where bending moment is maximum
 Or in other words, the condition of simple bending may be satisfied at a section where
 bending moment is maximum.
 Therefore beams and structures are designed using bending equation considering the
section of maximum bending moment
 Flexural rigidity/Flexural resistance of a beam:-
 For pure bending of uniform sections, beam will deflect into circular arcs and for this
reason the term circular bending is often use
 The radius of curvature to which any beam is bent by an applied moment M is given by
R=EI/M
 Hence for a given bending moment, the radius of curvature is directly related to “EI”
 Since radius of curvature is a direct indication of the degree of flexibility of the beam
(larger the value of R, less flexible the beam is, more rigid the beam is), EI is known as
flexural rigidity of flexural stiffness of the beam.
 The relative stiffnesses of beam sections can then easily be compared by their EI value

2 TRANSFER OF LOADS AND STRESSES IN BEAMS

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2 TRANSFER OF LOADS AND STRESSES IN BEAMS

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THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

G. SENTHIL Kumaran, PhD

A beam is a structural element that is capable of withstanding load primarily

Based on the shape of cross section:

Based on equilibrium conditions:

Based on the type of support:

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